Hi, I’m Randy Smith
A special needs dad from Tallahassee, Florida — 18 years into this journey and still learning every day
Why Did I Build This Site?
My son was diagnosed with autism at age 3. In those early years, I focused on what was right in front of me — therapies, IEPs, finding the right school, surviving each day.
The future felt far away. Until it wasn’t.
I don’t remember the exact moment, but somewhere along the way — watching our friend’s talking with their kids talk about college, seeing them teach their kids to drive — the question crept in and wouldn’t leave:
“How will my son sustain himself once I’m gone?”
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably had that same 3 AM thought. The one that sits in your chest. The one that makes you feel completely alone even in a room full of people who love you.
I get it. I’ve been there. I’m still there.
What Was My Wake-Up Call?
Two things happened as my son got older.
First, it became clear he wasn’t going to follow the typical path. The adult world operates on assumptions he doesn’t understand. College applications, job interviews, lease agreements, bank accounts — none of it was built with him in mind.
Second, his grandparents started getting older. They wanted to leave him money — a beautiful gesture born from love. But when I started researching, I discovered something terrifying:
A direct inheritance could disqualify him from every benefit he needs to survive.
That’s when I fell down the rabbit hole. Special Needs Trusts. ABLE accounts. Medicaid asset limits. SSI rules. Sole benefit requirements. Payback provisions. First-party vs. third-party trusts.
I spent hundreds of hours researching. I talked to attorneys. I read federal regulations at midnight. I made mistakes. I learned from them.
And I kept thinking: Why is this so hard to figure out? Why isn’t there a simple, state-by-state guide written by someone who actually lives this?
So I built one.
When the Diagnosis Wasn’t the Hardest Part
Around age 19, my son developed bipolar disorder on top of his autism. The structures that had supported him for years — school, IEPs, the predictable rhythm of being a student — quietly ended. He couldn’t drive. He struggled with social interaction even on his best days. He was starting to understand that the typical milestones — partnership, career, his own family — probably weren’t going to be his. He fell hard into depression, anger, and hopelessness.
It took every bit of my energy to keep him stable. Eventually we got him on medication that let me breathe and let him hold it together long enough to participate in job training through state programs and disability charities. He’s still here. He’s still fighting. And I’m his pal, his father, and his caregiver — usually all at the same time.
If your family is navigating mental illness on top of, or instead of, a developmental disability, I built Special Needs Trusts for Mental Illness for you. It’s the page I wish I’d had.
What Does This Site Do?
After 18+ years of learning these rules — through trial, error, and countless phone calls with Medicaid offices — I created SpecialNeedsTrustByState.com to share what I’ve learned. Free. No paywalls.
Every other resource I found was either:
- Written by lawyers in jargon I couldn’t understand
- Generic “one size fits all” advice that ignored state differences
- Trying to sell me something before helping me
- Outdated and potentially dangerous
I wanted something different — a clear, compassionate, state-specific guide written by a parent for parents.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- State-specific rules for all 51 jurisdictions (50 states + DC)
- Clear comparisons of ABLE accounts vs Special Needs Trusts
- Practical tools — calculators, checklists, guides
- Real parent traps I’ve seen (or fallen into myself)
- Attorney connections when you need professional help
And if you want to hear from other families walking this same road, visit our Parent Journeys page — real questions, real experiences, and the reassurance that you’re not alone.
What Qualifies Me to Write This?
Not a law degree. I don’t have one, and I’m not pretending to.
What I have is something different — the combination of a parent who needs these answers and a career that taught me how to find them.
I’ve spent 20+ years in IT roles at a Florida state government agency — work that demands precision, accuracy, and comfort with dense regulatory documents. When I fell down the special needs trust rabbit hole after my son’s diagnosis, I already knew how to read a federal regulation without flinching.
Here’s what I bring to this site:
- 18+ years as a special needs parent — my son was diagnosed with autism at age 3. This isn’t research I did once and walked away from. It’s ongoing.
- Personal experience setting up these protections for my own son — I’ve been through the process, made mistakes, and corrected them.
- Direct research across all 51 jurisdictions — I’ve personally reviewed Medicaid waiver rules, SSI asset limits, state ABLE program terms, and trust statutes for every state and DC. Not summarized from another website — sourced from state agencies and federal regulations.
- Conversations with special needs attorneys — I’ve consulted with attorneys in Florida and other states to verify my understanding and catch errors.
- An IT researcher’s discipline — I cross-check sources, note update dates, and flag anything I can’t independently verify.
I’m not a lawyer, a financial advisor, or a Medicaid specialist. Everything here is educational information — not legal advice. For your specific situation, you need an attorney who specializes in special needs planning, and I’ll help you find one.
You can verify who I am on LinkedIn →
My Promise to You
- Keep it simple. No legal jargon. No confusing acronyms without explanation.
- Keep it current. I review every state page quarterly, and immediately when laws change.
- Keep it honest. If I don’t know something, I’ll say so. If you need a lawyer, I’ll tell you.
- Keep it free. The information will always be free. This site is non-commercial — no ads, no sponsorships, no referral fees. Just research I wish I’d had when I was starting out.
- Remember why I’m here. Every page I write, I think about parents like me, lying awake at 3 AM, wondering how to protect their child. That’s who this is for.
What Families Are Saying
“Your website has been a wonderful resource as my siblings and I have been helping my sister to plan. I know it took a lot of time and effort to set up. Thank you for your generosity.”
— Richard E., site visitor
“No words to express my gratitude for your dedication in helping special needs parents. THANK YOU.”
— Ida P., site visitor
“I am an attorney and am doing the extra research needed to write a valid special needs trust for our daughter. Your website is fantastically useful. Thanks so much.”
— Virginia S., site visitor
“It only took me an hour and a half to find your site today — and I won’t tell you how many days and hours I invested looking for anything helpful or useful in my quest. I could tell within 3 minutes of being on the site that I could really find the help and guidance I needed in establishing an SNT for my 44-year-old. Thank you, and again I say thank you.”
— Keith M., site visitor
If this site has helped your family, I’d love to hear from you. Every message reminds me why those late-night research sessions were worth it.
How Can You Contact Me?
Have a question? Found an error? Just want to share your story?
📧 Email: randy@specialneedstrustbystate.com
📍 Location: Tallahassee, Florida
I read every email personally. I can’t give legal advice, but I’m always happy to point you in the right direction.
You’re not alone in this. I promise.
— Randy
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